Chief academic officers at 1,053 institutions of higher education across the United States were surveyed about the barriers to improving teaching and learning. Using factor analysis, responses were reduced to nine general problem areas. In order of importance from most important to least important, the problems identified were: financial support, faculty support systems, student limitations, student academic support programs, academic administration, limitations of faculty, academic constraints, academic support systems, and enrollment demographics. Rankings are contrasted among comprehensive, four-year, and two-year institutions, and between public and private institutions. The identified problems had common features in that they concerned resource issues, external constraints, and administrative or governance structures. Academic administrators can address these barriers by such actions as working with other administrators to develop budgets and set institutional priorities, developing cooperative programs to improve the preparation of students before they reach college, and reorganizing ineffective administrative systems. Two references are included. (JDD)